Wilbur Theatre

The Wilbur Theatre is a historic performing arts theater at 244–250 Tremont Street in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wilbur Theatre originally opened in 1914, but underwent renovations in 2008. The Wilbur Theatre sits in the heart of Boston's historic theater district and is known for hosting live comedy and music.

Wilbur Theatre
The Wilbur, 2009
Address244–250 Tremont Street
Boston, Massachusetts
United States
Capacity1,093, (1,200 General Admission)
Current useComedy and music venue
Construction
Opened1913
ArchitectBlackall, Clarence H.; Haynes Construction Co.
Tenants
Bill Blumenreich
Website
www.thewilbur.com
Coordinates42°21′2″N 71°3′56″W
Architectural styleColonial Revival
MPSBoston Theatre MRA
NRHP reference No.80000443[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 9, 1980

The venue seats 1,093, but the main floor (orchestra level) has removable tables and seating, to create a general admission standing room (bringing capacity to 1,200). It features basic concessions, including a full bar, on each of the three floors (Orchestra, Mezzanine, Balcony).

History

Clarence Blackall built the theater in 1913, and it was opened the following year. The Wilbur was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and designated as a Boston Landmark by the Boston Landmarks Commission in 1987.

In 1998 SFX Entertainment (now Live Nation) bought the Boston theater properties of Jon B. Platt, which included the lease on the Wilbur.[2] The lease ended in 2006.[3]

In 2007 the theater was put on the market.[4] Bill Blumenreich, a former owner of the Comedy Connection[5][6] in Quincy Market, leased the building in 2008.[7][6] The theater continues to regularly host comedic and musical acts, as well as other events.[8]

Comedy specials

The following specials were filmed at the Wilbur Theatre:

Comic Special title Network Release date
Sarah Silverman Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love[9] HBO May 27, 2023
Taylor Tomlinson Look At You Netflix March 8, 2022
Jim Jefferies Intolerant Netflix June 24, 2020
Katya Zamolodchikova Katya: Help Me I'm Dying Amazon Prime December 12, 2019
Joe Rogan Strange Times[10] Netflix October 2, 2018
Norm Macdonald Hitler's Dog, Gossip, and Trickery[11] Netflix May 9. 2017
Dana Carvey Straight White Male, 60[12] Netflix November 4, 2016
Tig Notaro Boyish Girl Interrupted[13] HBO August 22, 2015
Jim Jefferies BARE[14] Netflix August 29, 2014
Jim Gaffigan Obsessed[15] Comedy Central April 27, 2014
Tom Green Tom Green Live[16] Showtime 2012
Gary Gulman In This Economy?[17] Comedy Central September 1, 2012
Kathy Griffin Gurrl Down[18] Bravo! June 22, 2011
Bruce Bruce Losin' It[19] Showtime February 26, 2011
David Cross Bigger & Blackerer[20] Sub Pop Records May 25, 2010
Craig Ferguson A Wee Bit o' Revolution[21] Comedy Central March 22, 2009

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wilbur Theatre.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. Bound for Boston: SFX subsidiary gains legit house American Artists
  3. The Wilbur Theatre is up for Sale
  4. Palmer Jr, Thomas C. (August 16, 2007). "Next act awaits the Wilbur Theatre". The Boston Globe.
  5. Palmer Jr, Thomas C. (March 12, 2008). "Comedy club owner to lease the Wilbur". The Boston Globe.
  6. Kandarian, Paul E. (May 18, 2014). "At the helm of the Wilbur Theatre". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  7. "Wilbur Theatre gets its acts together - BostonHerald.com". www.bostonherald.com. Archived from the original on 2010-07-05.
  8. "The Wilbur – Boston". thewilbur.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
  9. Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love (2023), retrieved 2023-05-27
  10. "Strange Times". IMDb.
  11. Norm Macdonald: Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Trickery (2017), retrieved 2017-07-23
  12. "Netflix Announces Premiere Dates for New Line-Up Of Original Stand-up Comedy Specials". Netflix Media Center. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
  13. Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted (2015), retrieved 2017-07-23
  14. Jim Jefferies: BARE (2014), retrieved 2017-07-23
  15. Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed (2014), retrieved 2017-07-23
  16. Tom Green: Tom Green Live (2012), retrieved 2017-07-23
  17. Gary Gulman: In This Economy? (2012), retrieved 2017-07-23
  18. Kathy Griffin: Gurrl Down (2011), retrieved 2017-07-23
  19. Bruce Bruce: Losin' It (2011), retrieved 2017-07-23
  20. David Cross: Bigger & Blackerer (Video 2010), retrieved 2017-07-23
  21. Craig Ferguson: A Wee Bit o' Revolution (2009), retrieved 2017-07-23

Further reading
  • Yearbook of the Boston Architectural Club, 1915. Includes illus. of Wilbur Theatre
  • George McKinnon. "A born-again Wilbur will celebrate success." Boston Globe, 20 Jan 1980
  • Anthony J. Yudis. "Theatre plaza to spotlight the district." Boston Globe, 09 Oct 1983

Images
  • Program, 1915
    Program, 1915
  • Seating chart, c. 1917
    Seating chart, c. 1917
  • Advertisement, 1922
    Advertisement, 1922
  • Program, 1922
    Program, 1922
  • Lobby, 2009
    Lobby, 2009
  • Sign, 2010
    Sign, 2010
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